The Battle of Life by Charlotte Maria Tucker

THERE was silence in the cottage for a short space of time after Harry had finished the last sentence.

Michael Garth continued to look fixedly into the fire, with a thoughtful expression upon his weather-beaten face. His wife watched him anxiously, wishing that he should be the first to reply. Presently Garth turned from the fire, slowly seated himself beside it, and resting his hands on his knees, began-